Improvement in bee-hives



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UNITED STATES PATENT QErrcEa IV. M. LEE, OF ROSENDALE, XVISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEE-HIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 33,486, dated October 15, 186].

To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, IV. M. LEE, of Rosendale, in the county of Fond du Lac and State of NTisconsiii, have in vented a new and useful Improvementin Bee-Hives; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in a peculiar construction and arrangement of' divided'beehive with removable comb-racks and honeyboxes, and also miller-traps and bee-feeders. Invthe accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of my improved bee-hive. Fig. 2 is a back view of the same, one of the doors and one of the feed-bpxes being swung back 1n order better to show the peculiar construction. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the hive from front to rear. Fig. 4 is a top view of the hive.

My hive is divided int-o two parts A and B. There being no partition, they form a single hive, in both sides of which the queen bee will deposit her eggs, so that the opening of parts A and B.

In dividing a swarm a corresponding portion of an empty hive is immediately placed by each of the two parts lA and B (which have just been separated) so as to form two new complete hives of. the same size as the original before its division. In order better to fasten the two separable parts together, I use a dovetail strip E, which is slipped intoa corresponding groove. This strip projects in front and also serves the secondary purpose of a ledge or door-sill for the bees to light upon before entering the hive through the beeholes D, Fig. l. The bees can also enter the hive at the bottom board P, as will be explained.

Upon the rear of the hive are attached boxes F and G for feedingthe bees. These boxes have hinged lids g for introducing the feed, and they communicate with the main parts of the hive by bee-passages 'L' fi. They are also provided with a rack S, Fig. 4, near the,bot tom, (indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2,) and a partition f, (also dotted line, Fig. 2,) in order to pour the feed under the rack without disturbing the bees.

In the main body of the hive is arranged a the hive will leave brood-comb in bot-h the series of removable cornb-racks Il, Figs. 3 and 4. Each ot' these racks has a ring h'near the center'through which the bees can freely pass tothe center ofthe comb. This arrangement allows the bees to retreat to the center of the hive in cold weather and feed thence outward.

The upper part of the hive is provided with honey-boxes M, having a slide or perforated plate in the bottom. This slide is held shut by means of an elastic strip ot rubber or other spring (shown in dotted lines at t, Fig. 4,) and` may be opened at pleasure by means of the ring and cord or band m. The boxes M have glazed windows at the top and also small end windows n. Either the boxes M or one or more of the racks H may be withdrawn whenever honey is wanted from the hive, an empty box or rack being substituted.

At the lower part of the hive are two -millertraps O, corresponding to the two parts A and B of the hive. These traps are attached to the bottom board P, the ends of the same being provided with retreating entrances o, leading the millers into the trap, but elfect` Vually preventing their egress. The bottom boards ot` the hive,which form the top of these traps, are capable of sliding on the wedgeshaped supports or legs in order to close the Ybottom of the hive at night, and thus shutout the millers. A screen or perforated plate is placed in the board P to admitair to the hive through the trap wh en the boards P are closed. -In Fig. 2 the board P on the right hand is pushed backward so as to close the hive; but the corresponding board P on the left is pushed forward, leaving the space T for the bees to enter.

By my arrangement ot' hive every part can be examined at pleasure without disturbing the bees. The racks can be removed for inspecting the comb in the central part of the y i hive. It millers should chance to get into the hive by neglecting properly to close the same at night, their presence can be detected, the rack removed and cleansed, or another substituted. f

In the full-sized bee-hive, instead of the rings 7l, perforated balls may be substituted.

I am aware that various modes have been employed for dividing swarms of bees without swarm ing, therefore I confine my claims to my above-described arrangement and operations. Having thus described my invention, what I 33A HG claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. Dividingthe hive-rack vertically th rough the center without a partition in such manner as equally or nearly equally to divide the brood-comb, the bees, and the honey, substan- 'lhe honey-boxes provided with Soreens operated by springs on the bottom, substantially as herein described.

4. The arrangement of the removable stri p Y(lovetailed into the front for the purpose of holding the two parts ot' the hive and for the tially as set forth. ll bees to light upon, as set forth.

2. The peculiar construction and arrange- XV. M. LEE. ment of moth-trap, with slides for closing the In presence off-- hive atnighhand Ventilating-screen,snbstan- 7. L. VINCENT, tially as set forth. B. F. EDDY. 

